The party bus industry has become a burgeoning enterprise. The number of party buses on the streets of the United States has likely quadrupled in number over the past decade. Unfortunately, every year a remarkable (and grim) number of people are seriously and fatally injured in accidents involving party buses. Sadly, one of the most common causes of party bus accidents is also something that is preventable. Time and again, people are severely or fatally injured falling from party buses, as occurred again recently in Louisiana.
Ins and Outs of a Party Bus
Before digging deeper into the latest accident involving a party bus, a bit of background information about these vehicles is helpful. Party buses oftentimes in fact are converted, modified to turn them into something of a nightclub on wheels. In many instances, a party bus is even designed to allow room for dancing when the vehicle is in motion.
Depending on the laws in a particular jurisdiction, a party bus is designed in such a manner that drinking is completely permissible provided those partaking are over the age of 21. And, nearly everywhere, there are no laws on the books that prohibited party bus passengers from drinking – and drinking a great deal.
Party buses commonly are used in one of three different ways. First, they are used to transport people to some sort of destination venue, typically a bar or nightclub or some sort of special event. Second, party buses are employed far bar crawls. These are occasions in which people travel from one drinking establishment to another. Finally, there are also instances in which these buses are used for the direct purpose of being the venue of a party on wheels. Partiers board and celebrate while the bus drives about.
Party buses are widely used among college students. They are also favored with other people from different walks of life celebrating, including events like bachelor or bachelorette parties.
Latest Party Bus Tragedy
The most recent fatal party bus accident involved 40 individual partiers, including a pair of brothers, 21-year-old Austin and 19-year-old Denver Jenkins. The bus was traveling along what is known as Airline Highway is Ascension Parish, Louisiana, not far from Baton Rouge. In fact, the party bus was motoring down the highway at about 4:00 a.m. after leaving Baton Rouge and heading to Thibodaux when the accident occurred.
Although the investigation into the accident has been ongoing, all that is clear at this juncture is that no foul play is suspected. There is even some dispute about how the pair of brothers ended up flying onto the highway from the back of the party bus. Witnesses on the party bus report that the two young men fell from the back of the party bus onto the highway. Investigators have been mum about those specifics despite noting there was no indication of foul motive.
Austin was killed directly after hitting the highway. Denver has been in critical condition.
This is far from the first time that people have fallen from party buses to their demise or to sustain severe injuries. Faulty doors are a commonplace issue with party buses. Multiple people have been killed in party bus accidents when they fell from these vehicles as the result of doors malfunctioning. In the most recent party bus accident case, nothing has specifically been reported about a faulty door or some other design defect as of this moment. With that said, nothing of this nature has been ruled out.
Legal Rights After a Party Bus Accident
If you or a loved on have been injured in some type of party bus accident, you’ve an array of important legal rights that must be protected. These include your right to obtain compensation for injuries sustained in a party bus accident.
You can schedule a case evaluation with a party bus accident injury lawyer from The Doan Law Firm right now by calling (800) 349-0000. A nationwide law practice, The Doan Law Firm has offices from coast to coast across the country. You also can schedule a virtual consultation online. There is no charge for an initial consultation with a party bus accident injury lawyer. In addition, The Doan Law firm never charges an attorney fee unless we win for you.